BHA: New Board Member Orientation

Classification:

B: Board Governance and Operations

Code:

BHA

The trustees and senior management, to the best of their ability, will assist each newly-elected member to understand the functions, policies, and procedures of the Board of School Trustees (the “Board”).

To that end, it is the practice of the Board to hold a workshop for new trustees, in the form of an intensive information session designed to give new trustees essential insights into the operation and management of the school system. Opportunities are also provided to visit schools, departments, and programs.

In addition, some or all of the following may be authorized by the Board:

press conference at which new trustees would have an opportunity to meet with members of the media and discuss with them their positions on various educational questions;

an opportunity for new trustees to meet informally with incumbent trustees to stimulate an exchange of ideas;

a session dealing with parliamentary procedure as it relates to the operation of this Board, so that new trustees would become familiar with such matters as the initiation of motions, voting methods, etc.

Each newly-elected trustee will be given a copy of the Board's By-laws and policy manual, and such other materials as may be deemed helpful in his/her orientation.

New members will be encouraged to attend meetings or seminars specially designed for new school trustees by the B.C. School Trustees' Association. Their expenses at these meetings will be reimbursed in accordance with Board policy.

Trustees-elect who have not yet taken office will be encouraged to attend meetings of the Board prior to their swearing-in; however, they will not be invited to attend closed sessions until they have formally taken their seats on the Board.